Where DEI Jobs are Still in Demand
By nature, I am a curious person. I ALWAYS have questions and I've noticed I've been spending more time asking ChatGPT those questions. So when I made a general observation recently about the DEI job market, I thought it would be an interesting experiment to compare how three AI tools: ChatGPT, Co-Pilot, and Claude would respond. I will give the caveat that my observations are based on the fact that I run a job board (DEICareerBoard.com) and I spend a lot of time as a career coach researching jobs with and for my clients. This is not some statistically perfect research; this is just about my observations and showing the differences in AI tools!
Let's start with my observation/assumptions: If you are looking for a job in DEI, they are fewer and further in between, but there are some places where these jobs are still in demand:
New York
California: San Francisco. - IN THE CITY - most companies are looking for hybrid with 2-3 days in the office.
Texas: Austin - Surprising.
Illinois- Chicago, specifically, but there is a lot in the state!
Massachusetts - Again, surprising. I think this one leans heavily on healthcare focus.
I wanted to see if my observation was just based on my own biases, my own location, or what, so I took to AI to see what I could gather.
I started with a simple question:
Which state currently* has the most available jobs that include "Diversity" in the title? Ask me questions if you need to. (2025 was added as a follow up to clarify currently)
CO-PILOT* RESPONSE:
"That’s a sharp angle to explore—jobs with “Diversity” in the title often signal roles tied to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion), HR, or organizational strategy. While there isn’t a single definitive ranking by title keyword, here’s what the data and trends suggest:
🏆 States With the Most Jobs Featuring “Diversity” in the Title (2025)
While exact counts vary by job board, policy trends and hiring data point to these leaders:
1. California
Approx. 554,000 job openings statewide
Strong DEI infrastructure in tech, education, and government
Reinforced diversity programs despite national rollbacks
2. Texas
Over 525,000 job openings
Rapid growth in healthcare and energy sectors
DEI roles expanding in corporate and nonprofit spaces
3. Florida
Around 518,000 openings
High demand in tourism and healthcare
Diversity roles often tied to community outreach and public health
4. New York
451,000 job openings
DEI hiring remains strong in finance, education, and city government
Progressive policies support inclusive hiring
5. Illinois
350,000+ openings
Chicago leads in DEI-focused hiring across healthcare and logistics
State continues to invest in equity initiatives
🔍 DEI Policy Divide in 2025
15+ states have rolled back public-sector DEI programs
States like California, New York, and Illinois are doubling down on inclusive hiring
DEI roles are increasingly rebranded under “inclusive excellence” or “equity of opportunity” frameworks
ChatGPT's RESPONSE :
First, it asked clarifying questions since I gave it that option! I provided the following response to Chat's questions: Yes. I am thinking broadly. Also, to clarify, "currently" should be in reference to in 2025 only. Across platforms. ( I then also clarified that I’d like the top 5 after it told me Texas was the top state. )
"Here's a reasonable estimate for the top 5 U.S. states in 2025 with the most active job listings containing the word “Diversity” in the title (across all major platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor):
🔍 Notes & Methodology
For New York, LinkedIn reports over 16,300 “Diversity…” positions just in New York City, suggesting New York State leads overall.
California consistently ranks second, with tens of thousands of listings across cities like San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.
Texas shows strong numbers—around 9,500—with major hiring hubs like Dallas, Austin, and Houston.
Illinois (led by Chicago) and Florida round out the top 5, each with several thousand such postings.
These figures draw from real‑time counts on platforms like LinkedIn, Indeed, and Glassdoor in mid‑2025.
CLAUDE'S RESPONSE:
"Based on my search results, I wasn't able to find specific data showing which state currently has the most available jobs with "Diversity" in the title. The search results show general information about diversity job boards and trends, but don't provide the state-by-state breakdown you're looking for."
The information from Claude was so outdated and generic it wasn't worth sharing all the details.
Based on these results, I'd say my observations/assumptions weren't far off, but I am REALLY surprised by Florida over Massachusetts. I'll have to do some more digging. Also, this let me know I should spend some more time with Gemini because I liked the approach it took and the details it provided without additional prompts.